Integrating the understanding of theory, practice, and values The WritePass Journal

Integrating the understanding of theory, practice, and values Introduction Integrating the understanding of theory, practice, and values ) Multiple and conflicted loyalties of social workers – social workers are often in the middle of conflicting interests Duality of roles as helpers and controllers – social workers function as both helpers and controllers Institutional framework mandating the actions of social workers – refers to the conflicts between the duty of social workers to protect the interests of service users with whom they work against the societal demands for efficiency and utility Limited or lack of resources As such, there is a need to renew the sense of ethical awareness among social work professionals in order to encourage them to reflect on these challenges and to come up with ethically informed decisions. Examining the Complexities of Social Work Practice Social work requires the social work professional be adequately able respond to complex situations that reflect both public issues and private pain. Social work essentially involves taking on a ‘mediating role between the individual and society’ (Oko 2011, p.4). Social workers are mandated by the state to intervene with individuals, groups or communities in order to effect change. Additionally, social work practitioners seek to balance individual self-interest with social responsibility, while at the same time working within the legislative and policy frameworks (Dominelli 2009). All these contribute to the complexities of social work practice. There are many instances wherein the social worker is torn between the desire to help the service user versus adhering to the rules and regulations set by the state. In other scenarios, the social worker may have the legal mandate to aid a service user; however, the lack of funding, support, tools or human resources limits what he/she can do. The harsh reality being that not all service users who need help are being provided for. Social work encompasses a vast array of sub-fields such as education, child care, women’s rights, poverty, etc. and involves many kinds of expertise for example advocacy, forensic social work, counselling, etc. Moreover, social work involves a myriad of job functions and performing a wide range of interventions, e.g. case management, administration, training, etc. (Dominelli 2009). This is another source of complexity for social work practice. The social work practitioner is faced with the challenge of whether to engage in a particular field of expertise or to take on a more generalist role. The social work profession has multiple accountabilities – to employers (e.g. state agencies, private institutions), service users, policymakers, professionals in related disciplines (e.g. medicine, psychiatry, psychology and law), and the public. Donnelli (2009) aptly summarizes some of the complexities of social work, which are greatly changing the social work practice and the roles of social workers. This only serves to complicate matters and places a greater burden on social work professionals. ‘Social work is a constantly changing profession whose role and purpose in society is often disputed and subjected to professional and governmental regulations. Its constantly fragmenting boundaries and changing nature enable social work activities to be appropriated by other professionals: for example, the completion of risk assessments in child abuse cases by child psychologists and the opening up of mental health work formerly undertaken by approved social workers to any professional without a social work degree†¦Social work is constantly being restructured by the state and emerging in different forms, while retaining its core tasks of caring for people and regulating behaviour’ (p.15).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A study conducted by the Social Work Task Force (2009) reveals other complex issues that are being encountered by social work practitioners in England. The findings from the study show that social workers have several key issues, which they feel are complicating and negatively affecting their work. These are as follows: (Social Work Task Force 2009, p.6) Social workers feel that they do not have sufficient time to dedicate to the people they want to help. They feel strained by staff scarcity and limited by bureaucracy. Social workers feel very frustrated by some of the tools and support that are given to them to do their jobs. The support and tools are either lacking or inadequate. New social workers are usually unprepared for the demands of the job. Additionally, the education system does not effectively support ongoing development and specialisation for social work students. Social workers feel that their profession does not have a strong national voice and that they are not well-supported at the national level. Systems for managing the performance of social work practitioners are not driving and improving quality. Social workers feel that their profession is underrated, highly misunderstood, and under constant media attack. This makes it difficult for them to do their jobs and to attract people into the profession. Despite some efforts by the government, these issues continue to be a major concern for the social work arena. These issues are complex and require extensive effort not only from the state and social work practitioners; it also involves a paradigm shift and the re-framing of social work practice to change public and media perceptions. Critical Social Work and Advocacy Nzira Williams (2009, p.29) defines advocacy as ‘the representation of a need or an idea, either by a person or group on behalf of themselves, or by someone or an organisation on behalf of another person or group.’ Advocacy is usually associated with political action because it often involves asking for greater influence in decision making. However, advocacy also encompasses other actions, for instance, helping people to assimilate and participate in the community. Advocacy is also often used as a vehicle in helping to recognise injustices so that people can become more involved and respected. Moreover, advocacy helps to find remedies for the oppressed. As such, the role of social work practitioners usually involves an element of advocacy. One of the primary aims of social work ‘is to promote social justice in practice and policy’ (Dalrymple Burke 2006, p.17). As such, advocacy fits right into this framework and has occupied a large role in its approach. Indeed, social work has a long tradition of advocacy and social action, which leads to social reform (Hepworth et al 2010). Marrying the two together, social work advocacy, from the perspective of critical social work, can be defined as the ‘exclusive and mutual representation of a client(s) or cause in a forum, attempting to systematically influence decision making in an unfair and unresponsive system’ (Hepworth et al 2010, p.430). As such, social work advocacy involves persuading decision makers to take a particular course of action. From a critical perspective, social work advocacy is not merely representing the case in behalf of the client, but also to make sure that the client’s voice is heard. The goal of advocacy is not simply to represent the views of another but also to mobilise and enable the person to speak themselves (Wilks 2012 ). In social work advocacy, a case advocate is one who is working on behalf of a service user to ensure that they receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled to, while at the same time safeguarding their dignity (Hepworth et al 2010). The intent and outcome of advocacy should be: (a) to boost the individual’s sense of power; (b) help the person to be more confident; and (c) to encourage the individual to be more assertive and expand his/her choices (Wilks 2012). One of the main principles of anti-oppressive practice is the belief that social work has the capability to empower the individual and to change power relationships between individuals, communities, and society through the adoption of approaches that are sensitive to the impacts of difference. Advocacy’s links with empowerment may provide an approach to social work practice that is consistent with the aims of the anti-oppressive perspective (Wilks 2012). Social work’s core value and principle is the dignity and worth of the individual. This understandably leads social workers into advocacy efforts, as they work with oppressed sectors in order to reform power structures so that all are represented and have a share in the welfare of society (Pearson Higher Education 2012). There are various types of advocacy with their own strengths and limitations. Moreover, advocacy can be applied into various areas of social work. Appendix 1 shows a summary of the different types of advocacy and examples of how they are applied into social work practice. Summary and Conclusion Critical social work is founded on the theoretical underpinnings of Conflict Theory and Critical Theory Perspectives. Conflict Theory focuses on how power structures and inequalities affect people’s lives. This is based on the argument that society is structured along the lines of inequality (i.e. wealth, income, health) and as such, these provide people with qualitatively different lives. Critical Theories, on the other hand, hold that social problems arise due to various forms of oppression. This perspective also emphasises that people can change society through conscious and collective action. Based on these perspectives, critical social work approach emphasizes the transformation of relationships between social work practitioners and service users into one that is empowering, emancipating and mobilising. Anti-oppressive perspectives have become an important facet of critical social work. This perspective holds that the imbalance of power in social work relations only serves to support the emergence of oppressive practices. However, in actual social work practice, it is very difficult to liberate service users from oppression due to various reasons, such as the lack of funding, support and tools from the government, legislative limitations, etc. Ethical awareness refers to the challenge faced by social work professionals in terms of their ability and commitment to act in an ethical manner. The various challenges and dilemmas confronting social workers are sometimes making it difficult for them to come up with ethically informed decisions. Social work is a very complex profession. Social workers are required to respond to both individual cases and public issues. They are mandated by the state to intervene with people who need help; while at the same time, they must work within administrative and legislative parameters. Social work also has multiple accountabilities, which may be conflicting and overlapping. Moreover, social work is constantly being restructured and redefined by the state but its core responsibilities must remain the same. Lastly, the negative experiences of social workers in their practice (e.g. lack of state funding and support; feeling undervalued and poorly understood, etc.) are complicating the situation even more. Social work has a long tradition of advocacy. Critical social work advocacy involves influencing decision makers to take a specific course of action. Additionally, advocacy is not just to represent the service user’s case, but also to enable the person to speak for themselves. Taking all these together, it can be concluded that engaging in critical social work requires a strong foundation in theoretical perspectives combined with an in-depth understanding of actual practice scenarios. The complexities of the social work arena and the various issues faced by social work practitioners provide huge challenges. As such, knowledge must be combined with commitment to the work, as well as passion for social justice and empowerment. References Evans, T Hardy, M (2010).  Evidence and Knowledge for Practice. Cambridge: Polity Press. p1-15. Dalrymple, J Burke, B (2006).  Anti-Oppressive Practice: Social Care and the Law. 2nd ed. Berkshire: Open University Press. P7-53. Dominelli, L (2009).  Introducing Social Work. Cambridge: Polity Press. p1-25. Hepworth, D, Rooney, R, Rooney GD, Strom-Gottfired, K Larsen, J (2010).  Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills. 8th ed. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. p353-411. IFSW. (2012).  Statement of Ethical Principles.  Available: http://ifsw.org/policies/statement-of-ethical-principles/. Last accessed 14th Dec 2012. Kane, T. (2010).  What is social work?  Available: slideshare.net/ict4devwg/dwg-sw-march-10. Last accessed 14th Dec 2012. Lishman, J (2007).  Learning in Social Work and Social Care: Knowledge and Theory. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. p13-39. McLaughlin, K. (2005). From ridicule to institutionalization: anti-oppression, the state and social work.  Critical Social Policy. 25 (3), p283-305. NCSSS (National Catholic School of Social Services). (2008).  Overview of Theories of Human Behaviour and the Social Environment.  Available: http://ncsss.cua.edu/res/docs/field/theories.pdf. Last accessed 14th Dec 2012. Nzira, V Williams, P (2009).  Anti-Oppressive Practice in Health and Social Care. London: Sage Publications Ltd. p1-40. Oko, J (2011).  Understanding and Using Theory in Social Work. 2nd ed. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. p1-38. Pearson Higher Education. (2012).  Defining Policy Practice in Social Work.  Available: pearsonhighered.com/showcase/swcccs/assets/Cummins_0205032648_Ch01.pdf. Last accessed 14th Dec 2012. Social Work Task Force. (2009).  Facing up to the task: The interim report of the Social Work Task Force.  Available: swap.ac.uk/docs/taskforceinterim_rpt.pdf. Last accessed 14th Dec 2012. Strier, R. (2006). Anti-Oppressive Research in Social Work: A Preliminary Definition.  British Journal of Social Work. 10 (10), p1-15. Wilks, Tom (2012).  Advocacy and Social Work Practice. New York: Open University Press. p1-18. Appendix 1. Advocacy Type of Advocacy Example Strengths Limitations Paid advocacy Solicitor Expertise, especially on legal rights; powerful representation Costly; often an unnecessarily ‘heavy’ response Advocacy as part of a professional role Social worker; nurse Influence within services; time allocated as part of job; experience and knowledge of needs Usually working with more than one person, so attention limited that can be given to individuals; bound by conditions of employment; possible conflict of interest, e.g. if a person needs help to complain about colleagues or employers Advocacy by an organisation on behalf of a group Mencap; Royal National Institute for the Deaf; Age Concern Expertise; power deriving from membership; influence on national policy Usually concerned with general rather than individual issues Formal problem-oriented advocacy Ombudsman; Citizens’ Advice Bureau; local councillor; MP; patient advice (PALS) Formal or legal basis; independence; authority by virtue of role Often oriented towards complaints of specific problems Informal single issues unpaid advocacy Crisis or instrumental, outcome-oriented Citizen Advocacy Flexible; informal; expression of citizenship and social capital; minimises conflict of interest since unpaid and voluntary Concerned with single issues rather than long-term needs Informal long-term unpaid advocacy Relationship-based Citizen Advocacy partnerships; advocacy by family and friends Same as informal single issue unpaid advocacy; plus: long-term; relationship-based; protective as well as empowering Great trust required that the relationship will pursue the person’s best interests Self-advocacy by individuals on their own behalf Creative arts; taking part in own reviews; expressing wishes; involvement in person-centred planning Empowering; ensures relevance; participatory; enhances self-esteem Lacks power; depends on adequate support Self-advocacy by a group on behalf of its members People First; National Pensioners Convention; British Council of Disabled People Gives a voice to the otherwise unheard; expression of basic rights; supportive to members Likely to be concerned with general rather than individual issues; depends on financial and advisory support for success. Advocacy by individuals on behalf of a group Elected representatives; Partnership Board; Advisory panels Contribution of relevant views; expression of democratic participation and rights Individuals may not be representative; views expresses may not be those of the group as a whole Source: Nzira Williams 2009, p.30)